Temple Baptist Church - 12-11-2024
John 20:1-10
Introduction:
A. “It is finished” signaled the finished work of the Cross.
1. Our Lord suffered as no man has ever suffered when He took my place on the cross.
2. When you think of Calvary you think of suffering, shame, and substitution.
Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. But that isn't the end of the story! Jesus died, but He didn't stay dead. He was buried, but He didn't stay in the tomb.
B. The message of Calvary is not that Jesus Christ is dead, but that He is alive! Because Christ Jesus eternally lives, we who are saved will live eternally also.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
C. Two simultaneous events that covey a wonderful spiritual truth took place prior to the taking away of the body of Christ.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
1. He bowed His head. He died.
2. He gave up the Ghost. His Spirit left the body.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
D. At that moment of death, the Lord was going to leave some things behind. We do the same thing when we die. We leave behind family, friends, our church family, our temporal usefulness, our possessions, and—most of all our legacy.
E. Jesus Christ left behind those same things plus what is mentioned here in our text.
1. He left behind His Borrowed Tomb.
a. Though the Bible does not say that it was borrowed, but Christ Jesus used it and gave it back to Joseph of Arimathea. He returned it in Pristine condition.
b. His borrowed grave was empty. Jesus didn't need it anymore. He had conquered death, hell, and the grave.
c. The tomb was a place for the dead, but Jesus is the life and resurrected.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
d. We will give the world back the graves that our bodies occupy because we will be gone!
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2. He left behind His Spices.
a. The burial spices served two purposes.
1) They were used as a preservative, to slow the decaying process.
2) They were also used to cover the smell of death.
b. Our earthly bodies will corrupt. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
c. His earthly body did not corrupt. Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
d. We will one day be like Him with a glorious body that will never see corruption.
3. He left behind His graveclothes.
- The Bible does not tell us what clothes our Lord wore after the resurrection, but they were not corruptible, they were eternal. Our Lord would not clothe Himself with the unclean after He was cleansed.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
b. We also will one day be clothed with heavenly garments that will be glorious and never grow old.
2 Corinthians 5:1-3 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
4. He left behind His Folded Napkin. It was an Eastern custom to wrap the head and face of the dead with a “napkin”.
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
a. There is much speculation concerning the folded napkin lying apart from the other clothing. I have read much about the theory of the folded dinner napkin. There are some that report it and others that debunk it.
b. That being said, I believe that the folded napkin shows an act of deliberation. The resurrection was not a hurried act but a planned one.
c. The folded napkin shows that the body of Christ was not stolen as some would later report.
d. We who are “alive and remain” have an unfinished task.
Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (24) Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
5. He left behind an Open Door of Salvation.
a. An invitation. The stone was rolled away, and anyone could step in and see the finished work of the Gospel: death, burial, and resurrection.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
b. Salvation was to whosoever may come. As the door of the tomb was open, the Door to Heaven remains open to all who desire it.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
6. He left behind a Task to be Finished. But, I do think that this deliberate act shows that the work of Jesus was not finished, neither here on earth or in heaven. Salvation was a work to be finished. Therefore, the two ascensions of Christ:
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
a. The First Ascension: The High Priest applying the blood to the Mercy Seat in Heaven.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
b. The Second Ascension: The visible ascension before His disciples.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
c. Because our High Priest applied the blood, we can now apply the blood to ourselves through faith in His finished work.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
7. He left behind a Promise not to be Broken.
Mark 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
a. His promise to apply the blood and then to return.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
b. He will also come again for His children in the Rapture of the Church.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Conclusion: Though we find here the Gospel finished, there is also still a work to be done!
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